Likely Story
By Terreece Clarke,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Light, soapy summer read about a teen soap writer.
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What's the Story?
Mallory's life with her soap star mother is as unreal as the plot lines on her mother's show. One day, on a fluke, and after another huge fight with her mom, Mallory blogs about how unreal soaps can be and how she would write a better, smarter soap. When she's given the opportunity to do just that, she's jazzed. All she has to do is be successful, cast her best friend in the lead role, balance her life with her boyfriend who already has a girlfriend, and keep her mother off her back. Easy right?
Is It Any Good?
LIKELY STORY has a fun concept. The daughter of a soap opera star is writing a "realistic soap opera" about teens. The real story is not the soap, but the real life drama Mallory has to handle. Unfortunately, the book seems to be one big set-up for the sequel. Readers are left with flat, one dimensional characters that don't develop well enough for readers to care about any of them. Also the plot twists are predictable, readers will see Mallory's mom's power trip from a mile away.
Mallory delivers some pretty funny lines and the banter between the characters is, at times, giggle worthy. She's insightful, funny, and quick-witted, a great narrator. There may not be amnesia or alien abductions in this fast-paced novel, like you'd find on Mallory mother's show, but the story is grounded in soap opera reality -- right down to a blow-out argument that ends with someone falling into a pool.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about marketing and relationships. Does mentioning name brands and TV shows help the story? Are the characters who own high-end items positive influences in Mallory's life?How does Mallory's relationship with her mother affect her relationship with others? Mallory makes a tough decision where Amelia is concerned -- have you ever had to make a decision and worried about how your friends would react?
Book Details
- Author: David Van Etten
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Knopf
- Publication date: May 13, 2008
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
- Number of pages: 240
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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